Things to Make and Do, Crafts and Activities for Kids - The Crafty Crow

Eco-Friendly Back to School Giveaway at Imagine Childhood

Visit Imagine Childhood to enter their
eco-friendly back to school giveaway!
Giveaway closes August 28th, 8am MST.

Make A Travel Game Box With Q-tips!

I've got a new Q-tips craft for you! This tutorial shows
you how to make a travel game box using an empty
Q-tips box and Q-tips! There are three different games:
a maze, pick-up sticks, and a triangle puzzle board!


What You Need:
empty box of Q-tips
40 Precision Q-tips
acrylic paint in assorted colors
paint brush
thick white glue
scissors
ruler
pencil
decorative paper
polymer clay
rolling pin
straight pin
knife
pattern for triangle peg game
small bead for maze

How To Make Q-tip Pick-Up Sticks:


I decided on 25 Q-tips for this game. I don't have
the original game so I just winged it on the number of
sticks, colors, and point value. Using acrylic paint, paint 3
Q-tips blue (8 points), 8 Q-tips green (3 points),
and 14 Q-tips red (1 point).


How to Play Q-tip Pick-Up Sticks:
Bundle the sticks in your hand and then drop
them on the table. Take turns picking up as many sticks
as you can without moving any other stick except the one
you are picking up. If you move a stick, then your turn is
over. The player with the most points at the
end of the game wins.

How To Make The Triangle Peg Puzzle Game:


1. Print out the triangle peg game pattern here
and cut it out. 


2. Work the polymer clay until it is soft and then roll it
flat until it is large enough to accommodate the pattern
(triangle is a little over 3¼" on each side).
3. Lay the pattern on top of the clay. Use the pin to prick
the center of each circle. Then, using the side of the pin,
trace the outline of the triangle onto the clay.


4. Remove the pattern. Cut away the edges using
a sharp knife or something similar.
5. Cut or break a Q-tip in half and then use it to make
holes on top of each of the pin pricks. Swirl the Q-tip
around to make the hole slightly bigger - it will
shrink a bit while baking.
6. Follow the directions on the package for baking.
Mine was about ¼" thick so I baked it
at 275°F for 15 minutes.


7. Mark the centers of 7 Q-tips and break or cut
them in half.
8. Paint the 14 pegs with acrylic paint and let dry.


How To Play The Triangle Peg Puzzle Game:
Insert 14 pegs into the board leaving one space empty.
Jump one Q-tip peg over another, into an empty space,
until only one peg is left. That sounds easy, but it's a fun
little puzzle that will keep your busy for awhile!

How To Make The Bead Maze:


If you've been following my Q-tip crafts then you'll
remember the large Q-tip maze that I made. This is
a much smaller version.

Paint 8 Q-tips with green acrylic paint. 


After they have dried, glue them into a simple maze
pattern in the bottom of the Q-tips box. You may need
more or less Q-tips depending on the
pattern that you create.


How To Play The Q-tip Bead Maze:
Just drop the bead into your maze and see how quickly
you can get it from one end to the other!

Covering the Q-tips Box:


I used a page from an old road map to go with
my travel theme, but you can use any kind of sturdy
paper that you like. Decorate your own or choose a
pattern. Measure and cut the paper to wrap around
the outside sleeve of the Q-tips box, let it overlap by
an inch or so, and glue in place.


You're finished! Now pack up your games
and go somewhere!

This is a sponsored post. Q-tips® product was
provided by Unilever, the makers of Q-tips®;
my tips and usage suggestions are my own.

Pretty Watercolor Art

Red Bird Crafts shares an easy watercolor
project to brighten your day!

Turn A Stuffed Animal Into A Marionette Puppet

I think this is a fantastic way to upcycle a stuffed
animal - make it into a marionette puppet!
Ramblings From Utopia shows you how.

Simple Beginning Sewing Project for Kids

If you've been looking for an easy beginning stitchery
idea for kids then click over to Childhood 101 to see
how to get started with this rainbow stitching project.

Make A Ball From Plastic Bags

Mamascout shows you how to make
a ball from recycled plastic bags!

Alphabet Glue Volume 8 Now Available!

There's a new issue of Alphabet Glue out!
This is the 8th issue and it's packed with
wonderful book suggestions and project
ideas and activities to extend the fun!


Make a field guide to your backyard
and save seeds for next year...


Enjoy four new book lists with over 80 titles and
make paper pinwheel story starters to begin
your own literary adventures!


Explore some family-friendly graphic novels
then try your hand at making your own comic books!

For more information, and to purchase this volume
or any of the previous volumes, visit Alphabet Glue!

Sailing Ships and Treasure Maps

I love this whole post about treasure maps
and sailing ships! Se7en has all the
fun details and directions.

Pool Noodle Lightsabers

Here's a great way to make lightsabers for your
Star Wars party or just for fun - pool noodles!
Muddy Boots has the directions.

Simple Sidewalk Chalk Spray

Visit Wine & Glue to see how to make her own
simple version of sidewalk chalk spray. It's the
perfect solution to last minute fun!

Sea Animal Crafts Round-Up

sea shell crab craft
Kleas


yarn octopus
Rhythm of The Home


shark craft
Naturally Educational


seahorse craft
Mama's Little Muse


starfish craft
The Crafty Classroom


fish repeat collage
Deep Space Sparkle


whale craft
Ramblings of A Crazy Woman


felt fish craft
Use Your Coloured Pencils

Sprinkle Fireworks Picture

These sprinkle firework pictures are so simple and
a perfect quick activity to pull out when you need
something fast. Get the details at Reading Confetti.
Found via Little Page Turners.